When it came time to plan this Sunday’s music I wanted to keep the Easter theme going. There are so, so many distractions in my life that I always feel like the important things are over and done before I am ready for them to begin. Sometimes I feel like I am so busy doing things for God that I am not paying enough attention to God – to what He is saying to me. But there is great benefit in having a job in the music/worship ministry. I get to spend weeks in preparation for Advent, for Holy Week, and for our Patriot Sunday celebration (although some would not consider our nation’s independence to be a church thing, I do). I am usually singing Easter music before January is over, and patriotic music by April. Christmas music for me begins in September every year, and I love it! But the downside of plenty of prep time is that there is very little time after for reflection. And that is why our theme this Sunday is our Risen Savior and His power and mercy and crazy love for us. I am still reflecting on the Resurrection.

No other believers in the world worship a risen Savior. No other figurehead has ever laid down his life for the sins of the entire world (past/present/future). No one else on our planet has ever lived a perfect life. In no other name is forgiveness and cleansing and salvation found. Only Jesus did that, and He did it for us even before we needed it. I believe it is worthy of singing about all day, every day, and this central truth is at the core of every song of worship we use here. There are other attributes of God that we honor and celebrate as well, but the Gospel is at the heart of all we do/say/sing/pray, because without it there is no point in singing at all.

I hope your Easter celebration was filled with joy and worship and family and good food. But most of all, I pray that you allowed the Spirit of God to move and work and invade your space so He could cause these truths to sink deep into your spirit. I pray that they are even now taking deep root in your life and that you will allow them to continue to teach you and grow your faith and understanding. Only if we allow the Spirit free reign in our lives will our church begin to reflect the spiritual growth of the individual members, and then we will begin to reach our world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

See you at church for worship on Sunday!

Careen